Where is Up North?

An exploration into Wisconsin culture and nature

My senior thesis collection, Where is Up North?, is an exploration into my relationship to Wisconsin culture and nature. The collection includes five garments, all constructed from the same seven yards of a handwoven double-weave cotton twill, along with three leather accessories. My goal was to reimagine the clothing Wisconsinites wear, such as hunting gear, overalls, loungewear, and a plethora of plaids, into contemporary women’s fashion. I chose to weave a plaid to pay homage to the sheer amount of flannel shirts in this state, and I chose colors that reminded me of hues from the northwoods.

As I wove the seven yards of double-weave fabric over three laborious weeks, I meditated over each pick of yarn, reflecting on what my state meant to me. It means a place with people who value the process and working hard, take pride in and vacation in the vast forests and lakes, show up for their neighbors, and may not fit the mold of fashion but care about where their clothes come from and that they will last. Up North is both a place and a feeling. It is where you go for neighbors, nature, and slowing down.

The Process